Intro to Minimalism with Children

Nervous to approach minimalism with young children? Are you just waiting for frustration, upset and maybe a tantrum? Teaching a child to let go gracefully and have a good relationship with their possessions is a learned skill that many young ones need help with.

There are ways to describe letting go and minimizing excess in a helpful way to get your kids on board and NOT make them feel like you’re taking away, they’re “in trouble”, or you’re trying to get rid of their favorite things. Consistency is important too (but it is in every aspect of raising kids)!

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If your children are young enough to be blissfully unaware, you can use your discretion to sell/swap/donate if you choose. If they are starting to get a bit older, say around 2-3, walk them through the process with you, but also know that you may still have to remove some items yourself so you don’t get stuck keeping absolutely everything.

The most important part of minimizing your child’s things is observing your child - their favorite types of toys, what they enjoy, most-loved characters and objects they go to frequently. Doing this will lay a solid foundation and help to prevent upset at the root cause - unintentionally taking away or asking them to donate things they actually love and enjoy.

As we approach the holiday season, I’ll talk a little bit more about how to help guide children to let go, minimize and be more intentional from a very young age.

Anything you’re struggling with as you try to incorporate minimalism with your children?